- 16.
I woke up in a hospital room. It was night.
I opened my phone. Julian had posted on
Instagram, a rare occurrence.
It was a photo of his hand clasped over mine.
My hand was bare. Eagle–eyed followers
noticed the edge of a necklace peeking out
from under his shirt. The comments were
merciless.
“Mr. Thornton, looks like you’re getting a
taste of your own medicine. Didn’t appreciate
the beautiful girl, now you’re crying your eyes
out and no one cares.”
“Only a rich guy wears two engagement rings.
Savage.”
Julian replied to each comment with a single word: “Scram.”
Outside, the magnolias were blooming, their white petals luminous in the twilight.
I was lost in thought. When I turned, Julian was awake, watching me. The arrogance was gone from his eyes.
He remained silent, his lips pressed together, cautiously gauging my mood.
I looked at his eyes, still swollen.
I sighed and got some ice. People said he’d been wearing sunglasses everywhere. I’d never imagined him crying so much.
“Chelsea,” he finally said, “whatever you want
to do, whoever you want to be, you can do it.
Be it.”
I thought for a moment. “Even call off the
engagement?”
He paused, his voice hoarse. “Yes. But I’ll
always love you. I’ll always be here. And no
one else can have you. Not even in your
heart.”
I nodded.
He reached out and took my hand. I didn’t
pull away.
I would be myself, move on as Seth had
wanted, no longer a prisoner of that spring
seventeen years ago.
I would be myself, move on as Seth had
wanted, no longer a prisoner of that spring
seventeen years ago.
The gears of fate clicked into place.
Magnolias swayed in the spring night.
Julian and I had many springs ahead of us.
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